If you live in Laval or anywhere across the Rivière-des-Prairies on the Rive-Nord, you already know the calculus: the right specialist is usually worth the bridge. At Rico Clinic in Côte-des-Neiges, we’ve been performing safe, effective laser tattoo removal since 2017 — that’s about 8 years and 546+ treatments at one Montreal address, with a 5.0 rating across 135+ Google reviews. I’m Vlad, the founder. I came to this work through my own experience with hair loss and micropigmentation, and removal has become a core part of what we do every day. Last reviewed June 2025.
This guide is written for the person sitting in Laval, Repentigny, or Terrebonne wondering whether it’s realistic to get a tattoo removed in the city. The short answer is yes — and because of how removal is paced, the drive is far less of a commitment than you’d think. Here’s everything you need to know before you book.
Why Laval and Rive-Nord residents choose Rico Clinic
The Rive-Nord is its own world — larger homes, more space, family life front and centre. It’s mostly Francophone, with a strong Quebec-born population alongside growing Haitian, Maghrebi, and Lebanese communities. What it doesn’t have is a deep bench of dedicated laser tattoo removal specialists. Most people we see from Laval have already searched locally and decided they’d rather make one focused trip to someone who does this all day, every day.
Here’s the part that surprises people: removal is not a weekly appointment. Sessions are spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your skin can heal and your body can flush the broken-down ink between visits. That means a typical course is a handful of trips spread across many months — not a grind. You’re crossing the river maybe once every two months.
Getting here is straightforward. Off-peak, the drive from most of Laval is around 25 minutes down the Highway 15 corridor; at rush hour it can stretch toward an hour, so we’re happy to book you mid-morning or early afternoon to dodge the worst of it. If you’d rather skip the bridge traffic entirely, the orange line runs directly from the Laval stations — Cartier, De la Concorde, Montmorency — straight south to Plamondon, a few minutes from our door at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. The trip is roughly 30 to 40 minutes door to door. There’s street parking on Côte-des-Neiges if you drive in.
The reasons Rive-Nord clients come to us tend to cluster around life stages. We see people reconsidering long-time work as they move into a new chapter — a career shift, a wedding, a fresh start. We see parents who want a cleaner look. And we see a lot of folks who simply decided that a destination appointment, done properly, beats a convenient one done halfway. Whatever brought you here, you’ll be treated in one of our three private rooms — consultation, then treatment — designed so the whole thing feels discreet and unhurried.
How laser tattoo removal actually works
The science is genuinely elegant, and it’s been well understood for decades. Modern removal relies on a principle called selective photothermolysis, first described by dermatologists Anderson and Parrish in 1983. In plain terms: we fire extremely short, high-energy pulses of light that are absorbed by the tattoo pigment and almost nothing else. The ink particles heat up and shatter into fragments small enough for your immune system to carry away over the following weeks. The surrounding skin is largely left alone, which is why clean removal is possible at all.
Different ink colours absorb different wavelengths of light, which is why a quality clinic doesn’t rely on a single setting. Black and dark inks respond well to a 1064 nm wavelength, while brighter colours like reds and oranges are targeted with 532 nm. Matching the wavelength to the ink is what separates effective, safe removal from a frustrating, patchy result. We use modern, non-invasive laser technology and dial in the settings for your specific tattoo — never cranking the intensity to rush things, which is exactly how burns and scarring happen.
How fast you’ll see results depends on your tattoo. Older, faded, professionally-applied black tattoos usually clear fastest. Fresh ink, dense colour, and certain pigments take more patience. Where the tattoo sits on your body matters too, because areas with better circulation clear ink more efficiently.
What a session actually feels like
Let me walk you through a visit so there are no surprises. When you arrive, we apply a numbing cream and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. We then clean the area, hand you protective goggles, and select the right wavelength and speed for your tattoo’s colour and size.
The laser itself is quick. Most people describe the sensation as moderate and brief — the classic comparison is a thin elastic band snapping against the skin, with a warm sting. Sensitive spots like the neck and head feel more than the forearm, thigh, or calf. We take short breaks between passes so you can breathe, and for many clients a cold-air blower makes the whole thing very manageable. A small tattoo can be done in minutes; a larger piece takes longer but is still a single, focused appointment.
Healing and aftercare, step by step
Aftercare is simple, and doing it well is the single biggest thing in your control. Right after the session, we apply a healing cream and send you home with guidance to keep applying one for the next 7 days. Expect some redness, mild swelling, and possibly small blisters or scabs over the first few days — that’s a normal sign the process is working.
Two rules matter most. First, don’t pick at scabs or blisters; let them resolve on their own, because picking is the main avoidable cause of scarring. Second, keep the area out of the sun until it’s fully healed, and use sunscreen on it afterward — fresh skin is vulnerable and sun exposure between sessions can cause pigment changes. Stay hydrated, skip the gym sauna and swimming pools for a few days, and keep the area clean. That’s really it.
How many sessions you’ll need — and what it costs
Most tattoos take 6 to 12 sessions for complete removal, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart. If you only want to fade a piece for a cover-up rather than erase it, you’ll need fewer visits. Cost reflects that range: sessions at Rico Clinic run from $50 to $800, depending on size, colour, age, and complexity. We never quote you blind — your free consultation includes an honest assessment and an exact per-session price, and our multi-session packages bring the cost per visit down. For Rive-Nord clients especially, that transparency matters: you’ll know the full picture before you commit to the drive. Curious about all our treatments? Take a look at our services overview, or browse more practical guides on the Rico Clinic blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth driving from Laval for tattoo removal?
For most people, yes. Because removal happens over several sessions spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart, you only make the trip every couple of months — not every week. Off-peak the drive is roughly 25 minutes via the Highway 15 corridor, and the orange line runs straight from the Laval stations down to Plamondon. Many Rive-Nord clients pair the visit with a downtown errand.
How much does laser tattoo removal cost?
Sessions at Rico Clinic range from $50 to $800 depending on the size, colours, age, and depth of the tattoo. We confirm an exact per-session price at your free consultation and offer multi-session packages that lower the cost per visit.
How many sessions will I need?
Most tattoos take 6 to 12 sessions for full removal, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your skin heals and your body clears the broken-down ink between visits. Older, faded, and black-ink tattoos usually clear faster than fresh or brightly coloured ones.
Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
Most people describe it as moderate and brief, often compared to a snapping elastic band. We apply numbing cream beforehand and can use a cold-air blower during the session to keep you comfortable. Sensitive areas like the neck feel more than the forearm or thigh.
Will it leave a scar?
When the laser is used correctly and you follow aftercare, scarring is uncommon. Modern laser removal targets ink, not surrounding skin. The biggest controllable risk is picking at scabs or skipping sun protection — both of which we walk you through.
What our clients say
Our reputation is built one result at a time. Across 135+ Google reviews we hold a 5.0 rating, and the themes repeat: clients mention how professional and reassuring the process felt, how clearly we explained what to expect, and how genuinely the ink faded session over session. Many came in nervous about pain or scarring and left surprised at how manageable it was. After 546+ treatments since 2017, the thing we’re proudest of isn’t a number — it’s that people who drove in from across the river tell their friends it was worth the trip.
Book your free consultation
The first step is always a free consultation: we look at your tattoo, answer every question, and give you an exact price and session estimate — no pressure, no surprises. Book your free consultation online in a couple of minutes, or call us at (514) 346-8044. We’re at 4934 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Whether you’re coming from Laval, Repentigny, Terrebonne, or anywhere on the Rive-Nord, we’ll make the trip worth it.
Reviewed by Vlad, Founder & SMP / Laser Tattoo Removal Specialist at Rico Clinic. Last reviewed June 2025.